Method of washing fabric articles



Nov. 12, 1963 J. A. GANIM METHOD OF WASHING FABRIC ARTICLES Filed July 50, 1962 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH A. GANIM United States Patent 3,110,045 METHGD 0F WASHENG FABRIQ ARTliCLlES Joseph A. Ganim, 609 Ringer Sh, Utica, NY. Filed July 30, 1962, Ser. No. 213,331 2 Claims. (Cl. 8-158) This invention relates to laundering devices, and more particularly to a method for laundering heavy fabric articles in agitator type washing machines.

Automatic machines, of the type having an agitator and provided with a basket which is spun rapidly at the end of the washing cycle to expel the wash water from the laundered articles, usually cannot be used to launder heavy fabric articles such as bath rugs and very large articles of bath-towel material. The large and heavy material becomes bunched together during the washing cycle resulting in inefficient cleansing and throwing the basket out of balance during the spin-dry portion of the cycle. The water soaked heavy fabric, unless it is very evenly distributed about the basket at the start of the spin-dry portion of the cycle, weights one side of the basket so heavily that it may damage the machine or, in machines provided with a safety device for stopping the machine when this occurs, the machine stops without damp-drying the article.

The principal object of the invention, accordingly, is to provide a method for use in agitator type washers for keeping heavy fabric articles evenly distributed around the agitator during the washing portion of the cycle so that the weight of the article is evenly distributed in the washer basket when the spin-dry portion of the cycle commences.

Another object is to provide a method in agitator type washers for keeping heavy fabric articles evenly distributed and extended around the agitator for more efficient V cleansing when they are washed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an attachment according to the invention together with a heavy fabric article secured thereto; 7

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are enlarged side elevational and plan views respectively of one of the clips used for securing the fabric to the attachment;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View similar to FIGURE 2 but on a smaller scale showing an attachment in conjunction with a washing machine; and

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the ring portion of the attachment.

In the drawing, the attachment is shown as -a ring 10 (FIGURE 6) and four spring clips 11 (FiGURES 3 and 4) made of stm'nless steel or aluminum or other material which is substantially non-corroding and unafiected by water or the detergents commonly used washing machines.

Ring 1% is formed of a one quarter inch diarneter rod bent and welded to form an annulus about eight to ten inches across.

The clips 11 are of conventional construction except that they have curved jaws 12 which diverge about threequarters of an inch between their rounded tips 13 and the hinged joint 14 at which the two halves of each clip are joined by the pivot pin 15. A coiled torsion spring 16 has its coiled portion around the pin 16 and the two ends of the spring engage the inner sides of the handle portions 17 of the clip halves. Spring 16 is always under tension and urges handles 17 apart so as to bias the jaw tips 13 together.

3,1 10,045 Patented Nov. 12, 1963 The ring 10 is a smooth and rounded annulus and clips 11 are formed with rounded edges and no sharp corners to catch and tear fabric.

In FIGURE 5, a rug 20, having one edge 21 secured to ring 10 by clips 11 is shown in a tub 25 of a washing machine having an agitator 26 and a spin basket 27.

It will be understood that the washing machine partially shown is automatic in operation and, after the tub is filled with detergent laden water 28, the cycles include a washing cycle in which the agitator 26 is rotatably reciprocated by means not shown to swirl the wash water through the fabric to be washed, and a damp-drying cycle. In the latter cycle, the water is first pumped from the tub and the basket 27 then is rapidly rotated by means not shown to spin the wash so as to expel water therefrom by centrifugal force.

Agitator 26 is provided with the usual spirally extending vanes 29 to impart the desired swirling motion in the water. Varies 29 project radially from the agitator and extend therefrom increasingly from top to bottom. The outline of the agitator 26, as defined by the outer edges or" the vanes 29 is thus generally pyramidal or cone-shaped since the outer edges of the vanes slope downward and outward.

In operation, a heavy piece of fabric such as rug 20, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, has one edge 21 folded over the ring 10 so as to drape the rug around the ring. Clips 11 are then used to secure the folded edge about ring 10 as shown. The jaws 12 span the ring 10 and the fold at the ring, and the jaw tips 13 clamp the two layers of fabric together just below the ring.

The rug 20, thus draped about and supported by ring 10 is then inserted in the tub 25 of the washing machine around the agitator 26 as shown in FIGURE 5. Ring 10, with the edge 21 of rug .20 secured around it, slides down on the downwardly :and outwardly tapering vanes of the agitator indicated at 29 in FIGURE 5. Ring 10 is so dimensioned as to contact the vanes in an area well below the water level in the tub but well above the bottom of the agitator, and supports at least a portion of rug 26 above the bottom of the basket 27. This exposes the entire rug to the swirling action of the wash water during washing.

Moreover, the rug 20 is held by ring Ill extended circumferentially about the agitator. When the wash water is pumped from tub 25 and basket 27 starts to spin during the spin-dry portion of the washing cycle, rug 20 is held extended and distributed substantially evenly around agitator 26 in basket 27. It is thus prevented from eccentrically weighting the basket and causing the machine to stop.

As will be apparent to those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiment disclosed is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative rather than restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims. 1

What is claimed is:

1. A method of washing large fabric articles in an oscillating agitator washing machine without eccentrioally overloading the machine, comprising: separably supporting one edge of the article in circular disposition in the machine so that the article is draped in a substantially tubular configuration about the agitator of the machine; filling the machine with detergent treated water; and operating the agitator of the machine while supporting said edge above the bottom of the machine and below the level of the water in the machine.

2. A method of washing large and heavy fabric articles in a washing machine which has a rotatably oscillating vaned agitator, the vanes of which taper radially outward said supporting means being engaged by the outer edges of said agitator-vanes to support said one edge nearer the top of the agitator than the bottom thereof; filling the machine with detergent-treated water to a level above said supported edge; operating the agitator for a selected period of time for cleansing the article; and then removing said articles from its supported position in the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Smith Oct. 6, 1908 Smith Ian. 5, 1926 Donley Sept. 29, 1931 McCabe Oct.23, 1934 Handcock Apr. 21, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS France July 6, 1959 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1929 

1. A METHOD OF WASHING LARGE FABRIC ARTICLES IN AN OSCILLATING AGITATOR WASHING MACHINE WITHOUT ECCENTRICALLY OVERLOADING THE MACHINE, COMPRISING: SEPARABLY SUPPORTING ONE EDGE OF THE ARTICLE IN CIRCULAR DISPOSITION IN THE MACHINE SO THAT THE ARTICLE IS DRAPED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY TUBULAR CONFIGURATION ABOUT THE AGITATOR OF THE MACHINE; FILLING THE MACHINE WITH DETERGENT-TREATED WATER; AND OPERATING THE AGITATOR OF THE MACHINE WHILE SUPPORTING SAID EDGE ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF THE MACHINE AND BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE WATER IN THE MACHINE. 